Adjustable pitch for leveling instruments



May 13 1955 v. F. POSTHAUER, SR 2,743,528

ADJUSTABLE FITCH FOR LEVELING INSTRUMENTS zz @TV w ZEW -5 Z4 s ff? E7/ IN V EN TOR.

45 VINCENT F POSTHAUER,

BY 5R.

Affi/@V57 May E V. F. PIOSTHAUER, SR

ADJUSTABLE FITCH FOR vI .EVEVLING INSTRUMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1954 INVENTOR. VINCENT F POSTHAUER.

.This invention. relates .tot spirit. levels.vv Morerparticular- .ly,.=.the..invention.hasreference z: to. :a .device attachableto .an end .of..a.level,.andadjustable lransverselyxof the level to engage an inclined surface against which -the.level.is supported.. 1

.Devicesfofvthe.typestatednarefnotznew per se. ,How-

ever, it. is proposed to provide an improvedzmounting of.

.such a..device upona level, .wherebythe levelcanbe shiftved to aselectedposition .of .adjustmentzspeedilyand lwith .maximum ease, andican. be fixed against movement rela- ,.tiveto. the level, insaidadjustedposition. f

, United States Patent A further object is to provide-means,..in one .form of the .device, for.4 facilitating. the. reading ..of'f.the..device :from in front of rather thanifrorntheend of .the devel...

, Another object,.in some formsof the invention, is to.in-

.fsurefthatin its normal,inoperativerposition, .theattachment willlb'e rdisposed. vinwardly from, .-.the. plane of '.the workcontacting surface .ofi .the ..1evel, .topermit ,normal .use :of

levels :differing from .one another .infrespect .1o. their. size or design. .For further.comprehensiomof.the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, .referenceiM will. .be had i lto the fllowingdescriptionand accompanying drawings,

fand 'to the appended .claims .in -whichl .the various. .novel ifeatures of the invention .are more, particula'rlvsetforth. 4In Atheaccompanyingdrawings forminga material .part of this/disclosure: v Fig.l l'is va side elevationalview of a..1evel .on..whch has been mounted av pitchengagingdevice. formedin .accordance with 'the present invention. y Fig'. v2' isv any enlarged, `fragmentary,perspective .view .of "the @naief the yevelami'of said device.

.Slis .a sectionalviewl onzline 3..-3l.ofFig. 2.A

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view throughrthellevel .online .5.-5 .of Fig. .1.

k iFig, .6 'is .a 'view similarto Fig...2.`.showingA al1-modified form.

. .Fig,.7 isa sectionalview onf..line.77fof Fgigtx. Fig. 8 is a.sectional...view on line..88 .of .Figv..6... 4F.ig..9'is a view similarto Eig...16:showing-.a second-.modivtiiation. i y

,l "-Fig... 10'is .a sectionalfviewon lineltlofi 9.y

.'Fi'g., 4. is .a rtransversefsectional .view .on'line -ofT Fig..

ICC

AFig. llisa fragmentary,.exploded perspectiveiviewaof a thirdmodiication.`

.Figtv .12 'is .a.fragmentaryfsidetelevational view of the levelwith the formof Fig., 11 secured thereto, alportionzof the,device beingbeing 4shown-,in-section.

Fig.; 13 .is Ian..enlargedsectional. view-on fline rISff-.lof Fig. 12.

In-..the=.form .off..Figs 1-5,.the.generally conventional levelf14 .includes-1a 1at, elongated...bodyl61nn .whichtare formedV longitudinal anges .18 wand..` endl. flanges #20. Flanges.18 :a1-.edn cparallel. .planes .normalfftot-thefplane'of body 16,.and .end.iangeszZOmare/talso inipanallel planes, normal .to thebody 16v andvperpendicular to :thai-.planes of the :'anges .18. On f-body; 16,-.at,uniformlyespacedtflocations y.alongthe length..thereof, bubblefassemblies :generally designated ..22 arev rprovided.. f. Each ofi ftheseea's mounted .ina circular formationfl ofitheu'body having-ra center opening in which transversely spacedgfiizparallol, circular sight windows 24.(Fig.- 4)areaperipherallyunited,

- to encloseafpairof bubble tubesz f Alternating ,withthebubble assemblies ZZ-areielongated, rectangular openings 28 formed in the levelffto lightenzthe weight thereof. i

The .pitch-gauging .devicel :constituting .thefinvention includesv .a rectangular r plate .32 .integrallytformed along ,oneside edge with aiiangel extendingin axplaneifnormal.

to that otpla'tefSZ, andk engagingagainst one.-side:edge-ici .the end ange 20 .whichplateBZ overlies (Fig.,.3).

' Formed f .-in...p1ate 32 -.i s 4a. :closednlongitudinalafslot-66,

through which..r extends 4.a combinationnclamping aand mountingscrew 38 .threaded rina-amend.recess:lzforanetl in flange .20.. A' washer 140, .interposed between.theme-reyv head .and.plate.f32, .bears lagainstxtherplate atioppositve Onthat side edgezof` plate remote-from: angetmeml ber 34,a .calibratedscale 42 is provided,-and-.?any of-.ithe

calibrations thereof .may be. 'registered with afsinglefzinex 44 '.markedupon. thev correspondingsideetlgefofatl'le` associated end-.flange.20.. 40

In.v Fig. ..2 lthe Vdevice vis inoperatively disposed. l -Asrwlill be noted, at this time, its bottom edge is spacedrinwardly toaslight extent fromtbceplanetof thefworkecontecting .surface of the bottom longitudinal vllangexuliy The :fio

cation.of .thebottorn end .-of plate 32..inward lyu1fromrsaid .planemaybe properly foundfbyregistering.gindext44swith the lowermostgradation or calibration 42. Attn-the same time, screw -38 .lis engaged-.against the ;bottomvendtof :slot

In useof .the .device,.fand.assuming that ktheeinclinati'on 4'from the horizontal of .a surface Svis'to be festablished,

screw 38.;is loosened. Plate 32-is then.adillstedfttrans versely offt'he' level, that is;.downwardlly in Fig.v 1,y .untilts bottom .edge is fin. contact withV surface Sswitl'iy theflevel 14' extending .perfectly horizontally) as -..determined:''fby checking of theproper bubbles.v The-level now;;in-.-cooperation with the device `30, iS/supported"againstthe surface Stat opposite ends of:thetleveLlwith.;the'klevel in its Ihorizontal position; .Thatccalibrationffwhicherhas,

dnringthis process, been registeredwvith findexftstflisrread.

'The .calibrations will fbe suitablyyrnarkedwvith :indiciaalto ydesignate the degree `of .pitchffper established:nurnsbbrrof lfeet.l lFrrexample, ina-commercial: embodimentaffthe gradations may be markedv .Iin..-terms of the; number tof inches for each Atwo :feet':of=-sur-.aoe.-.S Thexleveliithns, may ..be.. exactly twoy feet` long-between the left-hand end .of .thehandle 'as-:seen -inzFig 1,..andheiworkrcontctihg bottom. .endl off ;plate 32, andA .the total. numberzofrzgradationsrnay represent a.-halfinch:ofzadrinpl pertwo eetof surface4 S.- -OfA course, .the-.particular:mannenlineiwhich the .calibrations-are markedwcan :bei variedg and .theyamay be markedy om. for.. example,: in rdegreeses instead fot-'iin 3 number of inches of drop per each foot or predetermined `number of feet of surface S.

When the device has been adjusted to the proper location, it can be clamped in place by means of the screw '38. Alternatively, the screw may be left slightly loose,

so as to be capable of frictionally engaging thc plate 32 in the selected position of adjustment, while still scale-marked plate 32a having calibrations 42a registrable selectively with an `index 44a of base plate 46. Plate 32a 'can be secured in selected positions of slidable adjustment by a clamping screw 38a about which is circumposed a washer 4l)ab adapted to bear peripherally against Y plate 32.

In this form of the invention, base plate 46 is iixedly secured to the adjacent end of level 14, by screws 50 Ythreadable into a vertical series of end recesses 39EL of 'the level 14a.

The screws have tapered heads, engaging in complementarily tapered countersunk openings 54 formed in base plate46 at the base of its longitudinal channel.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the level 14h, Aat one end, has a channel 56 formed therein, extending between the top and bottom or longitudinal surfaces of the level. Sliding in the channel is a plate 32h, having calibrations 42b registrable selectively with an index 44b marked upon the end surface of the level. A clamping screw 38b holds the plate 32h in selected positions of adjustment.

In Figs. ll-l3 a third modification is shown, adapted for connection to a conventional level 14, without drilling or other modification of the level. yThe device is .here designated 30c, and includes a rectangular base plate 46c having a longitudinal channel in which slides a plate 32c suitably calibrated in the manner previously described, and held in selected positions of said slidable adjustment by a Aclamping screw 38c threaded into the base plate.

In this form of the invention, the device is provided at opposite sides thereof with arms 58 having at one end longitudinal, closed slots 60 receiving pivot pins 62 A carried by and between ears 64 formed upon the opposite sides of `the `base plate. At their other ends, arms l 58 arefformed with arcuate spring wings 66 engageable in a circumferential groove 68 formed upon the outer surface of a sleeve 70, medially between the ends of the sleeve. At its ends, the sleeve is knurled to facilitate rotation thereof. The sleeve, at its opposite ends, is formed'with internal left and right-hand threads, respectively, threadably engaged with complementary, oppositely threaded studs 72, 74 having feet 76, 78 tixedly secured to the outer ends thereof. The feet are of rectangular, block-like formation.

In use `of this form, it is necessary, to attach the device to the level, only that the user swing the arms 58 y outwardly from the position shown in Fig. ll, after which the base plate 46 is positioned against the adjacent end ange c of the level. The arms 58 are now swung inwardly, after which the arms can be adjusted in the direction of their lengths to cause the feet 76 to engage against the inner surface of the ange 20.

Withthe feet 76,' 78 engaged against the inner surface of'ange 20c of the level, and with the feet also in engagement against the opposite sides of the body 16c due tothe `inward swinging movement of the arms, the user rotates'the sleeves 70, to adjust the feet away from one.

another.` Ultimately, thel outer or end surfaces of the -feet engage against the inner surfaces of the longitudinal Y 4 flanges 18, and continued efforts to rotate the sleeves 70 in the same direction will cause the feet tobind tightly against said longitudinal flanges of the level.

By reason of this arrangement, the device is fixedly secured to the level, without any necessity of drilling holes in the level or otherwise modifying Vthe same. Further, it is quite important to note that the particular clamp which has been devised for this purpose is so designed as to prevent movement of the base plate 46c in a vertical direction upon the level, from the proper position of said base plate, in which proper position its ends are flush or are even spaced inwardly a short distance in respect to the outer surfaces of the longitudinal anges 18.

As will be noted, the pivot pin 62 is provided with a wing nut, thus to permit said wing nut to be turned to force the ears 64 tightly against the opposite surfaces of the arm 58, to hold the arm in selected positions to which it is pivotally and slidably adjusted with respect to' said ears. This further insures that the base plate will be held in proper position against the end of the level body.

The adjustable clamping arrangement illustrated and described has the further desirable characteristic, that it permits a single form or size of the device to be clampably engaged with any of various levels, different from one another with respect to their particular size. It is necessary only that `the level be of the general type shown in Figs. ll and 12, this being perhaps the most popular type of level in use today.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to beunderstood 'that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions hereindisclosed and the right is reserved to all changes andmodications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby United States Letters Patent l. An adjustable pitch-gauging attachment for a spirit level comprising means connectable to a level at one end thereof, and a plate in engagement with said means and adjustable transversely of the level beyond one side thereof into engagement with an inclined surface the` pitch of which is to be established, said means including a base plate, clamping arms carried by said base plate at opposite sides thereof and` swingable toward and away from the opposite faces of the level when the base plate is positioned against one end of the level, and means'on said arms engageable with the `level to hold the base plate in kposition thereagainst.

i 2. An adjustable pitch-gauging attachment for a spirit level comprising means connectable to a level at one end thereof, and a plate in engagement with said means and adjustable transversely of the level beyond one side thereof into engagement with an inclined surface the pitch of which `is to be established, said means including a base plate, clamping arms carried by said base plate at opposite sides thereof and swingable toward and away from the opposite faces of the level when the base plate is positioned against one end of the level, and means on said arms engageable with the level to hold the base plate in position thereagainst, said arms having a sliding and pivotal connection to the base plate for adjustment of the last-named means and arms longitudinally of the level with the base plate in engagement with the end lsurface of the level.

3. An adjustable pitch-gauging attachment for a spirit level comprising means connectable to a level at one end thereof, and a plate in engagement with said means and adjustable transversely of the level beyond one side thereof into engagement with an inclined surface the pitch of which is to be established, said means including a base plate, clamping arms carried by said base plate at opposite sides thereof and swingable toward and away from the opposite faces of the level when the base plate is positioned against one end of the level, and means on said arms engageable with the level to hold the base plate in position thereagainst, said arms having a sliding and pivotal connection to the base plate for adjustment of the last-named means and arms longitudinally of the level with the base plate in engagement with the end surface of the level, said last-named means extending perpendicularly to the arms so as to engage against longitudinal anges provided upon the level.v

4. An adjustable pitch-gauging attachment for a spirit level comprising means connectable to a level at one end thereof, and a plate in engagement with said means and adjustable transversely of the level beyond one side thereof into engagement with an inclined surface the pitch of which is to be established, said means including a base plate, clamping arms carried by said base plate at opposite sides thereof and swingable toward and away from the opposite faces of the level when the base plate is positioned against one end of the level, and means on said arms engageable with the level to hold the base plate in position thereagainst, said arms having a sliding vand pivotal connection to the base plate for adjustment of the last-named means and arms longitudinally of the level with the base plate in engagement with the end surface of the level, said last-named means extending perpendicularly to the arms so as to engage against longitudinal flanges provided upon the level, and being adjustable as to length correspondingly to the distance between said longitudinal flanges.

5. An adjustable pitch-gauging attachment for a spirit level comprising means connectable to a level at one end thereof, and a plate in engagement with said means and adjustable transversely of the level beyond one side thereof into engagement with an inclined surface the pitch of which is to be established, said means including a base plate, clamping arms carried by said base plate at opposite sides thereof and swingable toward and away from the opposite faces of the level when the base plate is positioned against one end of the level, and means on said arms engageable with the level to hold the base plate in position thereagainst, said arms having a sliding and pivotal connection to the base plate for adjustment of the last-named means and arms longitudinally of the level with the base plate in engagement with the end surface of the level, said last-named means extending perpendicuflanges provided upon the level, and being adjustable as to length correspondingly to the distance between said longitudinal flanges, said last-named means including a sleeve rotatably mounted upon each arm and having internal, opposite threads at its opposite ends, said lastnamed means further including oppositely threaded studs engaged in the ends of the sleeve.

6. An adjustable pitch-gauging attachment for a spirit level comprising means connectable to a level at one end thereof, and a plate in engagement with said means and adjustable transversely of the level beyond one side thereof into engagement with an inclined surface the pitch of which is to be established, said means including a base plate, clamping arms carried bysaid base plate at opposite sides thereof and swingable toward and away from the opposite faces of the level when the base plate is positioned against one end of the level, and means on said arms engageable with the level to hold the base plate in position thereagainst, said arms having a sliding and pivotal connection to the base plate for adjustment of the last-named means and arms longitudinally of the level with the base plate in engagement with the end surface of the level, said last-named means extending perpendicularly to the arms so as to engage against longitudinal anges provided upon the level, and being adjustable as to length correspondingly to the distance between said longitudinal anges, said last-named means including a sleeve rotatably mounted upon each arm and having internal, opposite threads at its opposite ends, said lastnamed means further including oppositely threaded studs engaged in the ends of the sleeve, and feet formed upon the outer ends of the studs engageable against said longitudinal anges and further adapted to engage against opposite faces of the body of the level and against the inner surface of an end flange of the level against which the base plate is engaged.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,992 Gillette Aug. 18, 1891 597,305 Sweeney Ian. 11, 1898 1,701,069 Frantz Feb. 5, 1929 1,794,254 Sherwood Feb. 24, 1931 1,964,408 Stauler June 26, 1934 

